Hurricane Georges Brings Destruction to Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast was battered by Hurricane Georges on Sunday, causing widespread damage and flooding in Mississippi and Alabama as New Orleans held its breath, hoping to avoid the worst of the disaster. The storm's 25-foot waves destroyed fishing piers and soaked beachfront roads, with thousands taking shelter in almost 250 coastal shelters along the Mississippi coast. Despite the devastation, there were no reported deaths or injuries from the storm, which had already killed more than 300 people in the Caribbean.

Key Takeaways:

• Hurricane Georges made landfall on Sunday, bringing high winds and heavy rain to Mississippi and Alabama, with waves reaching up to 25 feet in some areas.
• The storm's center was located about 70 miles south-southeast of Biloxi, Mississippi, and about 105 miles east-southeast of New Orleans, with wind blowing at around 105 mph.
• Thousands of residents fled the Gulf Coast in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, with many schools canceled and 11 coastal casinos in Mississippi boarded up.
• In Louisiana, a tidal surge topped a levee, sending 8 to 9 feet of water into a small fishing community in the southeastern part of the state.
• The storm caused widespread power outages, with at least 38,000 customers losing electricity in the southeastern part of the state.
• New Orleans had capacity to shelter 100,000 of its 450,000 people in nine shelters, including the Louisiana Superdome and the Ernest Morial Convention Center.
• A curfew was in place for New Orleans and surrounding areas.

Statistics:

• 25-foot waves destroyed fishing piers along Alabama's coast.
• 105 mph winds were reported in the storm's center.
• 38,000 customers lost power in the southeastern part of the state.
• 100,000 people could be sheltered in New Orleans' storm shelters.
• 450,000 people live in New Orleans.
• 11 coastal casinos in Mississippi were boarded up.
• 250 coastal shelters were set up along the Mississippi coast.

Sources:

• Jerry Schwartz, The Associated Press.
• Alex Brandon, AP photo.
• John David Mercer, AP photo.
• Dave Martin, AP photo.